Shoe-fastener.



L. H. MUNROE.

SHOE FASTENER.

APPLICATION FILED4APR. 19. I916.

Patented Nov. 21, 1916.

- wue/wtoz L. H. HUNROE: SJM

Gaol/mu sras SHOE-FASTENER.

Specification of Letters Patent.

Patented Nov. 21, 1916.

Application filed April 19, 1916. Serial No. 92,122.

To all whom it may concern Be it known that I, LUISHES H. MUNROE,

' a citizen of the United States, residing at Bellingham, in the county of Whatcom, State of Washington, have invented a new and useful Shoe-Fastener; and I do hereby declare the following to be a full, clear, and exact description of the invention, such as will enable others skilled in the art to which it appertains to make and use the same.

The present invention relates to certain new and useful improvements in detachable shoe fasteners, and has for its object to provide a device of this character which embodies novel features of construction whereby the proper adjustment necessary to a snug fit can be obtained, and which will not become accidentally loosened after being once fastened.

Further objects of the invention are to provide a shoe fastener which can be readily formed of sheet metal and is simple and inexpensive in its construction, which can be easily manipulated, which enables either a loose or tight fit to be obtained, and which will not become accidentally disengaged after being once fastened.

With these and other objects in View, the invention consists in certain novel combinations and arrangements of the parts as will more fully appear as the description proceeds, the novel features being pointed out in the appended claims.

For a full understanding of the invention, reference is to be had to the following description and accompanying drawing, in which Figure 1 is a perspective view of the upper complemental plate of a fastener constructed in accordance with the invention. Fig. 2 is a similar view of the lower complemental plate. Fig. 3 is a longitudinal sectional view through the two plates showing their relative positions preparatory to connecting them together. Fig. 4 is a long1- tudinal sectional view through the two plates showing the same connected together in one position. Fig. 5 is a top plan view of the plates in the position shown by Fig. 4. Fig. 6 is a View similar to Fig. 4, showing the plates arranged in another position.

Corresponding and like parts are referred to in the following description and indicated in all the views of the drawings by the same reference characters.

Specifically describing the present embodiment of the invention, the numerals l and 2 designate a pair of complemental plates, each of the plates being provided at one end thereof with a transverse slit 3 for convenlence in attaching the end of a strap 1. These plates are each adapted to be stamped from a single piece of sheet material, the upper plate 2 being formed with a longitudinal slot 5 and terminating at the free end thereof in an outwardly curved lip 6, while the lower plate 1 has a extending tongues 7 bent therefrom. These tongues 7 are pressed upwardly from the lower plate 1, and terminate in enlarged noses 7 which are first curved downwardly and then curved upwardly, thereby providing flared mouths leading under the tongues, and also providing rounded inwardly facing heads 7 either one of which is adapted to be sprung into a depression 8 formed in the upper plate 2 adjacent to the outer end of the slot 5.

The distance between the enlarged upwardly curved noses 7 a is less than the length of the slot 5, and the sides of the slot are preferably provided with notches 9 through which the enlarged noses 7 are inserted in the initial movement of bringing the complemental plates together in a hooked relation. The rear set of notches 9 are properly positioned with respect to the forward set of notches, so that the two sets of notches may be simultaneously engaged by the enlarged noses 7 a of the tongues 7. Owing to the fact that these noses are curved outwardly, the upper plate 2 can be moved toward the lower plate 1 and simultaneously drawn rearwardly after the noses 7 a have been inserted through the notches 9, thereby moving the enlarged noses of the tongues away from the notches 9 and causing one of the tongues to spring into the depression 8 at the end of the slot 5. If a loose fastening is desired, only the forward tongue 7 is brought into engagement with the slot 5, the distance between the outer end of the slot 5 and the lip 6 at the extremity of the upper plate 2 corresponding approximately to the distance between the bases of the two tongues 7 so that the outermost tongue only may be used when it is desired to obtain a loose fastening.

Having thus described the invention, what I claim as new and desire to secure by Letters Patent, is

1. A detachable fastening device, including a pair of complemental superposed pair of longitudinally plates, one of the plates being formed with a longitudinal slot having notches in the sides thereof, and being also provided with a depression at the end of the slot, while the opposite plate is provided with a longitudinally extending spring tongue formed with a laterally enlarged nose which is curved downwardly and upwardly to provide a flared end and an inwardly facing rounded head, the nose being adapted to be inserted through the notches in the sides of the slot preparatory to bringing the tongue into engagement with the end of the slot, and the head of the tongue springing into the before mentioned depression of the first plate when the tongue is in looking position.

2. A detachable fastening device, including a pair of complelnental superposed plates, one of the plates being formed with a longitudinal slot having corresponding notches in the opposite sides thereof, and being provided at the end of the slot with a depression, while the opposite plate is provided with a pair of alined longitudinally extending spring tongues, one or both of which is adapted to be engaged with the slot of the first mentioned plate to obtain a loose or a tight fastening, the noses of the tongues being laterally enlarged and curved inwardly and outwardly to provide flared ends and inwardly facing rounded heads, the enlarged noses being adapted to be inserted through the corresponding notches in the sides of the slot preparatory to bringing the tongues into operative position within the slot, the head of the foremost tongue then springing into the before mentioned depression of the first plate.

In testimony whereof I have signed my name to this specification in the presence of two subscribing witnesses.

LUISHES H. MUNR-OE.

lVitnesses GLAoYs L. SGI-IIRRMANN, JOHN Tnnzmo.

Copies of this patent may be obtained for five cents each, by addressing the Commissioner of Patents, Washington, D. 0. 

